The beginning of autumn is in my opinion the best time to visit Langhe and Roero area. Yellow, orange and red grapevine leaves are changing image of the landscape, the sun is shining, and warm air encourages for walks. In vineyards winemakers follow the weather forecast to take strategic decision whether start harvesting or wait a couple of days to let grapes maturing better. Wine lovers organize special tours in the harvest time to take part in each phase of works observing how heavy and swollen juicy fruits change into a precious liquor.

What’s more the autumn time in the Langhe and Roero is an eventful period. Each year Alba attracts with International White Truffle Fairs and every two years Slow Food invites to Bra all cheese lovers (in my next post you will find a review of Cheese fairs). Below you will find a list of incoming events:

Palio degli Asini (The Donkey Race), in Alba, October 6th. During this entertainment the capital of Langhe will get back to Medieval times: the event is going to start at 2.30 p.m. with a parade in the central streets of the town and the donkey race at 4.30 p.m. More info on: http://www.fieradeltartufo.org/Sezione.jsp?titolo=Palio+Degli+Asini+%28Donkey+Race%29&idSezione=182

Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d’Alba (Alba International White Truffle Fair).The event will take place in Alba from October 12th till November 17th and it will be a great opportunity to taste not only truffles, but also other regional products. Let’s have a look on a list below:

• Albaromatica, Alba, October 13th. A kind of fair presenting spaces and herbs;

• Open Alba, October 18th and 25th from 5 p.m. till 8 p.m. – free tastings in shops located in the downtown;

• Langhe e Roero in Piazza… con la Granda!, November 3rd – a market dedicated to different products of Langhe and Roero;

• Il Vino degli Antichi, in Eusebio Musem (via Vittorio Emanuele 19) in Alba  you will learn some historical details about wine, November 1st at 3 p.m., 4.30 p.m. and at 6 p.m.;

• il Baccanale del Tartufo e il Borgo si rievoca – mediaeval dinners, traditional games will take place on October 19th starting from 6 p.m. and October 26th  – all day.

• To look closer to truffles and to get some useful information how to buy them you will learn during a special course – Analisi Sensoriale del Tartufo, in Palazzo Mostre e Congressi, for more information you need to go to www.tuber.it, info@tuber.it;

• Piazza Risorgimento in Alba will transform in Salotto dei Gusti e dei Profumi and will host events dedicated to Langhe and Roero treasures: hazelnuts (November 1st-3rd, 10.00 a.m. – 6 p.m.), chocolate (November 9th-10th, 10.00 a.m. – 6 p.m.), cheese and wine (November 16th-17th, 10.00 a.m. – 6 p.m.);

More info and events on official website: http://www.fieradeltartufo.org/Sezione.jsp?titolo=FIERA+DEL+TARTUFO+2013&idSezione=458. And if you are still not convince if it’s a good idea to visit Alba in this period, let’s have a look on my review of Alba Internation White Truffle Fair 2012.